He'll always be with us

I don't think there is anything that can prepare a parent for the day their son, or daughter, leaves home. But it is at least comforting to know that there isn't any one thing Aaron, my youngest son, has wanted to do more than enlist in the Marine Corps. He started talking about it when he was only a little boy, which seems like only yesterday. He talked about it endlessly through high school. He pleaded with his mom and me when he turned 17 to sign the papers allowing him to join the delayed entry program so he could go as soon as he graduated, which just happened to be his 18th birthday. We said no -- not because we didn't want him to join; we said no because we wanted him to make the choice -- as his own man.

When he was ready, almost six months after his 18th birthday, Aaron enlisted. He announced the news in October. Actually, he announced it by telling me and his mom, Valerie, that he was leaving for boot camp in three weeks. Our hearts fell to the floor. Three weeks? Really? Wait! No, you can't.

Fortunately, three weeks was really three months -- he just didn't know that at the time. As it turned out, three weeks was only a test by the recruiter to see if he was really mentally prepared to enlist. Aaron was prepared. Mom and Dad weren't. I'll say it again, I don't think there is anything that can prepare a parent for the day their son leaves home, even when I know full well what Aaron did, where he is going, what he will do, and what to expect. See, I became a Marine in 1984. You can read more about that here.

But still, after three months, really after almost 18 years, I thought was prepared to see my son follow me, and my mother and father. I knew this day was coming. But there is nothing that can prepare you. My son has grown up, and left home. The reality of it all is starting to set in. 

You see, this really is the first time one of our four children left home. Actually, it's the second, but when our oldest boy left, and we helped him pack his things before turning his bedroom into a family room, Ryan never really left; he moved down the road. He is right there. He is a phone call away. He stops by regularly, multiple times a week.

This morning after church, we bid our youngest son farewell from the recruiting station. He left for St. Louis, where he will receive final enlistment processing. Tomorrow, he will be sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, where he will begin the process of becoming a Marine. God willing, on April 12, he will be proclaimed a United States Marine. Aaron has left home, for good.

I wanted to say more to him as I gave him my final hug goodbye. But I had no words. My son was leaving, and I was lost. I whispered only one thing to him: Isaiah 41:13, his favorite verse.

For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

I am so proud that my son is on his way to becoming a Marine, and I don't fear for Aaron, because I know the Lord will be with him. We are reminded that over and over again in Scripture, like in Jeremiah 1:8 ... "Do be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you, says the Lord." ... and Matthew ... "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul." 

So I am not afraid, but I do miss my son. I will miss his laugh. I will miss his smile. 

If you haven't already, give your son a hug today, or another. Today, your son may be a little boy. Tomorrow, he will be a man.

May God bless the Marine Corps.